UAE | Heritage and Culture

Khairat's sound of music

Renowned Egyptian composer Omar Khairat talks about the power of his art.

  • By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
  • Published: 00:11 May 4, 2008
  • Tabloid

  • Image Credit: Supplied photo
  • Al Fayah Choir, on the second night of the festival, maestro Berkev Taslakian led the choir to perform famous songs in French, Arabic, English and Armenian.
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Everywhere, arts are the same and they are not limited as an ancient form of expression," says Omar Khairat, Egyptian
musician and composer. Khairat, whose career took him from playing the classics on the grand piano, to a spell on the drums for a jazz band in Cairo and back to the piano, opened the Sounds of Arabia festival at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi last Thursday. He says he finds its hard to express him self in words"I express myself through music only".

He's considered one of the rare Arab artists who opted to be a composer."Arab culture is more concerned with songs than music, and I'm happy to be given the gift to express myself differently," he said.

Vital influence

“It's known that music has a vital influence on human behaviour, it adds beauty to our lives." he added. Since he graduated from the music academy in Egypt, Khairat is on a mission to bring the culture of music to the Arab world.
While Khairat continued his studies at Trinity College, in London, he got involved in international popular music and jazz. In 1979, he began his career as a pianist and soon his work started to gain recognition. The score for the popular film The Night of Fatima's Arrest was his first major work. It was the first film score to be released on audio cassette in Egypt, becoming a milestone in the music industry in the Middle East.

Mission

Now Khairat's mission is to continue what his uncle, the late composer Abu Baker Khairat started."He established the
institution of music to develop Arab music and at the same time present our deeply-rooted music to the West," he said.
“Music brings nations together with its unlimited expressions. That's the reason why everybody enjoys Chopin, Beethoven and other composers from all over the world. Music is a feeling," he added.

Khairat, who gained respect and recognition as he performed all over the world, said:"I think I leave a good impression about Arab music in all my concerts. It's touching to see Westerners enjoying our music as we enjoy theirs."

Don't miss it

The Sounds of Arabia festival encompasses more than two thousand years of unique music culture over six nights of
exceptional Arabic music and award- winning documentary films.

The films are related to music in the Arab world and its influence on people.

The festival, which started on May 1, will run until May 6. All concerts are held in the Cultural Foundation of Abu Dhabi and entrance is free.

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